India heat wave deaths

A heat wave in northern and eastern India in much of April, with area temperatures peaking at 105°, 113°, 116° and, in one town, 121°F, led to the deaths of at least 160 people. The deaths occurred in the states of Odisha, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh, though other states were also affected.

The El Niño weather pattern in the Pacific in 2016 has kept India’s coastal water temperatures high and delayed the monsoon season (which normally begins in April), intensifying the heat and contributing to a countrywide drought. In 2015, the worst heat wave in India in over 20 years caused 2,422 deaths.